Reports: Commander Out at Lackland Air Base

Colonel Glenn E. Palmer has been relived of command at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio

U.S. Air Force

In the wake of a sexual assault scandal at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, the commander of the Air Force’s sole basic military training group has been dismissed.

Colonel Glenn E. Palmer served as commander of Air Force Basic Military Training at the 737th Training Group at Lackland. In his tenure overseeing operations there, the base has been rocked by allegations of sexual assault from female trainees.

Officials familiar with the decision said Palmer has been relieved from those duties, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement was not yet public.

The officials said there was no indication Palmer was facing any criminal charges. In all, six instructors have been charged with offenses ranging from rape to adultery.

As KUT News reported last month, Lackland has been the focus of a sexual assault scandal involving 15 instructors, with investigators saying approximately 40 female trainees were victimized. Staff Sgt. Luis Walker received a 20-year prison term in June for rape and sexual assault.

Related Content

Opening statements will be made Tuesday in the trial of a former Air Force instructor accused of rape and sexual assault of the young trainees in his care.

Staff Sgt. Luis Walker faces 28 charges and could be sentenced to life in prison. A total of 12 Air Force instructors are under investigation for allegedly abusing recruits at Lackland Air Force Base, the main Air Force training center.

Staff Sgt. Walker is accused of 28 counts that include rape and sexual assault.

In three days of testimony, the prosecution presented 14 witnesses, including alleged victims. The defense brought only one witness, a technical sergeant familiar with the video surveillance capabilities throughout the base.